The Muse (1999)

Every creative person hits a dry spell, and the temptation to look for a shortcut back to inspiration is hard to resist. Albert Brooks writes, directs and stars in "The Muse" as Steven Phillips, a successful Hollywood screenwriter who, the day after receiving a humanitarian award, is told by a studio executive that he's lost his edge. Desperate to save his career, Steven gets a tip from a more successful friend (Jeff Bridges): hire Sarah (Sharon Stone), a genuine Muse and daughter of Zeus who quietly inspires the town's biggest names. There's a catch - Sarah expects to be paid in luxury, from a suite at the Four Seasons to little gifts from Tiffany's. Over the objections of his wife, Laura (Andie MacDowell), Steven agrees to her outrageous demands. But as Sarah charms her way into their lives, it's Laura who finds herself inspired. With a score by Elton John and cameos from Martin Scorsese, Rob Reiner and James Cameron, it's a sharp, knowing poke at Hollywood itself.